Vitamin E and human health: Rationale for determining recommended intake levels

The recent literature provides strong evidence that vitamin E intakes much higher than the current recommendations can contribute to and/or improve human health. In fact, the available data indicate that at higher-than-current recommended intake levels, vitamin E affects several functions related to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutrition 1997-05, Vol.13 (5), p.450-460
Main Authors: Weber, Peter, Bendich, Adrianne, Machlin, Lawrence J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
cancer
cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology
Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control
Diet
Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage
Female
human health
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Humans
Immune System - drug effects
immunology
Male
Medical sciences
Neoplasms - etiology
Neoplasms - prevention & control
Nutritional Requirements
Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement
PUFA
requirements
Safety
vitamin E
Vitamin E - administration & dosage
Vitamin E - blood
Vitamin E - metabolism
Vitamin E Deficiency - drug therapy
Vitamin E Deficiency - etiology
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Summary:The recent literature provides strong evidence that vitamin E intakes much higher than the current recommendations can contribute to and/or improve human health. In fact, the available data indicate that at higher-than-current recommended intake levels, vitamin E affects several functions related to human health. For example, Vitamin E is required to protect polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) against auto-oxidation. The amount of vitamin E needed to protect PUFAs against oxidative damage is at least 0.4–0.8 mg vitamin E per gram PUFAs and may be in excess of 1.5 mg/g when diets contain higher-than-average levels of long-chain PUFAs. Based upon studies of vitamin E kinetics and metabolism, a daily vitamin E intake of 135–150 IU is suggested. Important functions such as protection against oxidative damage, immune response, and the propensity of platelets to adhere to the vessel wall are related to vitamin E intakes. Vitamin E intake of 40 IU/d was the least amount demonstrated to inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation; a dose-dependent effect was seen up to 800 IU/d. Vitamin E intakes of at least 60 IU/d enhanced immune responses and intakes of 200 IU–400 IU/d decreased platelet adhesion to the vessel wall. Based upon the effects of modulating these functions, it is hypothesized that vitamin E plays a pivotal role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, many observational studies have reported vitamin E to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent intervention studies corroborate these findings. Of equal importance, there is a solid body of literature that demonstrates that these and much higher vitamin E intakes are safe.
ISSN:0899-9007
1873-1244
DOI:10.1016/S0899-9007(97)00110-X